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to a fault

Idioms  
  1. Excessively, extremely, as in He was generous to a fault. This phrase, always qualifying an adjective, has been so used since the mid-1700s. Indeed, Oliver Goldsmith had this precise usage in The Life of Richard Nash (1762).


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

“Daktronics was conservative to a fault for the 20+ years I was there,” a former employee told Torre.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 7, 2026

Heathrow Express, which normally runs from Paddington to the airport every 15 minutes, is closed in both directions due to a fault with the signalling system, according to the service's website.

From BBC May 30, 2026

Sheinbaum has long been known as cautious to a fault.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 28, 2026

You are, almost to a fault, the caretaker of your loved ones.

From MarketWatch Feb. 17, 2026

The Mamani I knew was incredibly independent and stubborn to a fault.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

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